A SPECIAL group is to be set up to help Nantwich recover from the Foot and Mouth Crisis.

The crisis is expected to continue for weeks, even months, to come and a Rural Working Group is being formed with a brief to react to current issues affecting the rural areas.

The group will also consider the development of a recovery programme.

The overall issue was discussed at a meeting of the borough council's Policy Committee last week when the construction of a working group was approved.

Speaking on the matter Labour Leader Peter Kent said: "The important thing is to review the situation once the crisis has died down and see what we can do to assist."

Cllr Byron Evans added: "The working group is not a decision-making body but it cannot come back to the policy committee as speed is of the essence."

It was therefore suggested in the meeting that the borough's Chief Executive could make key decisions and details be included in future council meetings.

It is also thought the Working Group could seek specialist advice and representatives from all parties will be including on the team.

The county's Foot and Mouth total remained at 11 confirmed infections on Tuesday night, with the borough still having four cases, all in Baddiley.

The introduction of the Army has been seen as a big factor in this slow down in confirmed outbreaks.

Borough councillors discussed many other factors about the crisis including the possible use of Maw Green landfill site to dump uninfected carcasses, which is still causing concern.

Cllr Rachel Bailey said: "This whole crisis has been very scary. What I feel has been most frightening is the way carcasses have been carried the length and breadth of the country.

"I wondered if, as a council, we could do anything to encourage the ministry to use Maw Green for local cattle," she added.

Cllrs were also concerned about the long term affect on the landfill with regards to future space for refuse.

Senior Environmental Health Officer, John Foster, spoke in the meeting about Maw Green and added: "Our environmental health officers will attend the tip on a daily basis with a watching brief to make sure that protocol is being followed."

Penny Corkish, from MAFF's Intervention Board, commented after the meeting, confirming that the need for the use of the site was still being considered saying: "All I can say about the site is that it is not being used currently, but it does appear on a list of identified possible sites."